bake my cake 2013: shannon’s cake

Our next Bake My Cake entry comes from Shannon of A Periodic Table. You all know Shannon. She practically lives here. She participates in every contest I have on this blog. Like Pumpkin Carve-Off. And Ginger. And Bake My Cake. And then she writes about it all in eloquent fashion on her blog. It’s disgusting awesome.

Shannon sent a letter with her entry. As in: a dissertation. But I think it says everything that needs to be said. Enjoy:

This cake encompasses our (blogging) life together; past, present, and future. The first cake I made for you was your birthday cake, which featured my first attempt with miniature cereal donuts. People really loved those. Also, it featured miniature vintage ballerinas, which you and I share a deep affection for.

I remember when we first met: it was sometime way early on, but I remember thinking “who IS this lovely ballerina person with a fabulous blog and photos, and why does she like me? Surely this will be a passing thing. I will not get my hopes up.” Fast forward to what’s been probably close to a year and a half, and we are dear friends (and you haven’t gotten sick of me yet, which is so great), and I couldn’t be more thrilled or honored to make your graduation cake.

Can you believe when we met you were an extremely experienced ballet teacher with no concrete designs on going to baking school? It seems like so long ago. But in a relatively short amount of time, you’ve said goodbye to teaching (the thing that you knew so well) full-time and traded that in to go into the unknown: baking school. You laughed, you cried, you cried a few more times, I cried with you and laughed a little too, and now look at you: a graduate. With honors, if I had to venture a guess. Saying it’s quite an accomplishment would be an understatement.

I am so proud of you, my friend. Like, really, really proud. Hug-attack proud. High-pitched screaming proud. SO proud. So I made you this cake, and it’s the least I can do, because you deserve so very much more.

Consider this a visual resume for your someday future bakery, which I know will be world-famous. I would love to work for you, or at the very least, visit and guest-bake every once in awhile. This is what I bring to the table:

1. Ability to do tiny, small detail work for seemingly endless amounts of time. Where others would go cross-eyed and curl into the fetal position, I emerge victorious. I can decorate small things all day long.

2. Obviously, nothing is ever weird to me. So you can tell me that we’re going to do some massive project involving fresh fruit and donuts and also sugar glass, and I’m in; I’m so in.

3. I’m crazy. I think that speaks for itself. I think that’s very beneficial to a bakery, because you can always hire good, but you can’t always hire nuts.

4. I love vintage decorations, cake, muffins, cookies, pastries of any sort, and breads. I see us as having the same aesthetic sensibilities, with different perspectives, but in a very complementary way. For instance, you’re a fancy baking school grad, and I like to take cereal and load it into cookies. So.

Maybe you will let me work for you. If that hasn’t convinced you, you should know that this cake is the momofuku birthday cake, but not: it is my first attempt at a cake mix hack, to make it easier for home bakers to make without all the work. It’s a good first attempt, but it needs work, which should demonstrate my obsessiveness er, tenaciousness. whatever.

I adore you. I know I said this, but I am so entirely proud of you, and if i was your neighbor, i would beat your door down so i could swing you about by the arms in a fit of joy at all you’ve achieved. 🙂

love,

shannon

Am I right? The woman has a way with words. Plus, this cake is perfectly darling. Look at the wee cinnamon buns! And the cookies and doughnuts! There’s a lot of precision here – that’s my kind of baking. I imagine Shannon standing at her kitchen counter, placing each of those mini-baked goods on that cake with a pair of tweezers. Think of the time that went into creating each of those miniature confections! Some call it obsessive, I call it genius. Also, this cake looks tall. That’s the best sort of cake. Can you imagine cutting into it? Of course, you’d have to fight off that ballerina to score a piece…

This cake speaks to friendship and dreams – as delightful a combination as butter and sugar. Thanks for baking me a graduation cake, Shannon! I truly love it. And I probably wouldn’t have made it through this year without you. You’re hired.

If you love Shannon’s cake as much as I do, you can cast a vote for it on Monday, June 17th, 2013.

I’ve been waiting all week for this cake, and it did not disappoint! Shannon, you continue to be awesome. There is so much to love about this cake – I especially like the detail of the layer of cookies standing on end at the top. It’s genius! And those tiny donuts and cinnamon buns? Ska-WEE! It’s not tiny fondant mixers, but amazing nonetheless. Way. To. BRING IT! XO

I want you to know, dear Mellissa, that i laughed right out loud when i saw your comment yesterday regarding the tiny fondant mixers. Here’s why: because my original thought was to do a cake shaped like the giant mixer Rachael fell into. and ACTUALLY LEARN HOW TO FONDANT AND THEN COVER IT WITH FONDANT. But then i realized that something would fall/melt/make me cry and it would have been a complete disaster. So you should get extra points for basically reading my mind. and thank you. way to bring it, YOU, because i am still marveling over your cake. my cake looks like a cartoon crazy person made it. your cake looks like a very talented cake person made it. so. 🙂

ibreatheimhungryon June 15, 2013 at 5:21 pm

Thanks so much Shannon, your cake love means a lot to me! That I read your mind is a testament to our shared craziness! If I thought I could have executed it, I would have tried it myself! I’m sure you possess the skillz to have made it work, even if there were a few tears shed in the process! Maybe by the time we do Bake my Cake 2014 to celebrate the opening of Movita’s new bakery, you’ll have figured it out! I have faith in your ability to FONDANT ALL OF THE THINGS!!!!! You got a whole year – get crackin! 🙂

Although I’m not a blogger, I as well have been waiting all week for this cake! I have known Shannon for almost 13 years. She is one of the most fantastic people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting! She is creative (obviously) and fiercely loyal and supportive (as you know also). I don’t know what I’m more proud of….her fantastic baking/cooking abilities or her huge heart that showers friendship and love. Congratulations Movita on your monumental achievement of “changing careers mid stream”! Can’t wait to read about all of your new adventures 🙂

guys: i did not even pay hillarie to say any of that. she just says things like this, totally sober, because she’s that amazing of a person; way more of an incredible friend than i’ll ever be. TRUTH. Also, she’s drawn to super crazy people, so….*waves hand* hi. the friendship works. You know, just to mention, my dear Hillarie also switched careers midstream not too terribly long ago: from student loan person to nurse. She does NOT get to make cake at her job, but i bet she wants to.

This cake is everything I dreamed of having on my birthday as a little girl. In fact when I was younger, my grandmother used to make me doll cakes because I loved them so. This cake, Shannon’s cake, just blew my memories of grandma’s cake out of the water. Spirally, sprinkly, pirouettey perfection!

and it just occurred to me (after counting a few times and then trying to do math and failing) that we still have one more cake?!?!?! who is it. i know you won’t tell me but i’m afraid. *is it katherine and scott*

It’s gotta be! I’m dying to know too – I can’t imagine that they would miss a chance to bake a cake for Mo-beau’s graduation! Can’t wait to see it!!!!! Or maybe 2.0 entered one – is that even allowed??? Seriously, I’m going crazy waiting to find out – I need to get a life…

I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS CAKE!!! And it surpassed my expectations (which were seriously high, btw). Shannon, you’ve done it again. I love love love it! Thank goodness I didn’t attempt to enter this contest because I would have paled in comparison. Maybe one day. Now, if you could please send me a piece…

now amy, you know i would send you make you an entire REAL momofuku confetti cake, decorate it with cereal donuts, and send you a piece. Maybe i can bring one along with me on the book tour. Better yet, we’ll make one together. 🙂

Okay seriously this just got insane. This cake is off the chain. I’m not even sure what that means but I know this cake is it. And that sweet note, omg come on now. I just want to hug Shannon and then shove her out of the way so I can sink my teeth into those wee little donuts. Brilliant.

movita beaucoupon December 28, 2015 at 10:35 am

Comments on this post are now closed as it was published in June 2013. Thanks for stopping by!

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